DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS PROBLEM SOLUTIONS

1) Considering the values given in the circuit

4;36W
L
5
in the figure, find 4 the power of the battery
and the value of e.

4
4

K
4


SOLUTION:

Current through 36 W resistor; The power of the battery;

Total current; is obtained as

The equivalent resistance of resistors;

1 1 1 1 1 4
= + + + = =1 ⇒ R p =1 Ω
Rp 4 4 4 4 4
Req =1+4 +5=10 Ω is obtained . The ε is obtained as
ε=iT R eq=12 .10=120 V
 a

4
2) Consider the circuit shown in figure. 6

a) Find the value i1, i2 and i3.

b) Calculate the potential difference
a
between points a and b. (Vab)

SOLUTION: a) 8V
18V
1) (Kirchoff’s first Rule) b 4
6
2) (Kirchoff’s second Rule)
i3 i2
3) (Kirchoff’s second Rule) i1

From 1) and 2)
12
4) is obtained.
18V 8V
From 3) and 4)
b
2/
i3 i2
i1

12

b)

Va -4i2 + 8 = Vb
Va - Vb = -8 + 4i2
Vab = -8 + 4x2,5
Vab = 2 V

3) Considering the values given in the circuit in the figure, after a long time,
a) Find the current in each of the branches of the circuit.
b) Calculate the charge accumulated on the capacitor.
SOLUTION: a)

When the capacitor is fully charged Appllying Kirchoff’s first rule to junction c we get

So we can write i1 = i4
Kirchoff’s second rule applied to loop
(abca) gives Appllying Kirchoff’s first rule to junction a we get

Kirchoff’s second rule applied to loop

(adeca) gives

b) We can apply Kirchoff’s second rule to loop (dfgced) (or any loop contains the capacitor) to find
the potential difference Vfg across the capacitor.

Charge on the capacitor is equal to

4) Considering the values given in the circuit in the figure,

after a long time,

a) Find the current in each of the branches of the circuit.

b) Find the charge accumulated on the capacitor.
SOLUTION: a) When the capacitor is fully charged i4 = 0 A and so
we write i1 = i5

20V

i3

5

6

-/ i2

i1 3

6

i4
5F
i5

2
10V

b)

We can apply Kirchoff’s second rule to any loop contains the capacitor to find the potential difference
VC across the capacitor.

VC – 6i4 - 10 + 2i1 =0
VC – 6.0 - 10 + 2.2,7 = 0

VC - 0 - 10 + 5,4 = 0

VC = 4,6 V

Charge on the capacitor is equal to

 S
a

5) Consider the circuit in figure. 3F

a. Find the time constant.

b. If the S switch is opened after the circuit

12V is 5
kept closed for the specified time 1 in the
first state, what will be the voltage across
the capacitor 6 μF?
6F

SOLUTION:

a) b

Req = 1 + 5 = 6 Ω Time constant; τ = ReqCeq =6x2x10-6 = 12 x 10-6 s

3 x 6 18
C eq= = =2 μF
3+6 9

b) For t = τ = 12 x 10-6 s


q  C 1  e
t
RC

 
6
12x10
6 6.2x106
q  12.2x10 1  e 
 
q  15,12C

q 15,12x106
V3F   V3F   5, 04V
C3 3x106
q 15,12x10 6
V6F   V6F  6
 2,52V 6)a) Find the amount of charge accumulated in
C6 6x10
the 3 mF capacitor 18 ms after the S switch is brought to the a-position in the circuit in the
figure.
b) If the switch S is kept in the a-position for a long time, what will be the charge on the
capacitor?
2
c) How long does it take for a b the 3 mF capacitor to halve its
charge when the switch S is set to the b
position? S

20V 3F 6F

10 2
SOLUTION:

a)

Req = 10 + 2 = 12 Ω


q  C 1  e
t
RC

b)

c) 2
a b
Req = 10 + 2 = 12 Ω
S
3 x 6 18 20V
C eq= = =2 μF 3F 6F
3+6 9

10 2

7) Before the switch is closed in the circuit in figure

there is no charge stored by the capacitor. Determine the
current in R1, R2, and C
a) at the instant the switch is closed (that is t = 0), and
b) after the switch is closed for a long period to time
(that is, as t → ∞).

SOLUTION:
a)

ε 10
i= = =1 x10−3 A=1 mA for R1 , C and i=0 A for R2
R1 10 x 103

b)

ε 10
i= = =0,67 x 10−3 A=0 ,67 mA for R1 , R2 and i=0 A for C
R1 15 x 103

8) The circuit has ben connected as shown in figure a long

time.
a) What is the voltage across the capacitor ?
b) If the battery is disconnected, how long does it take for
the capacitor to discharge to 1/10 of its initial voltage ?

SOLUTION: a)

i1
ci 2
R4,1 = 4+1= 5 Ω
R2,8 = 2+8= 10 Ω
a b Req = 5*10/5+10

Req = 10/3 Ω
V=
d iReq

Va + 2x1-8x1 = Vb
Va - Vb = 8 – 2
Vab = 6 V
Vab = VC = 6 V

b 1 ) If 8 the battery is disconnected the circuit will be as shown in figure.

R1,8 = 1 + 8 = 9 Ω

R4,2 = 4 + 2 = 6 Ω

Req = 9*6/9+6
1F

4 2
Req = 18/5 Ω